Arch-Support Sandals That End Achy, Tired Feet

Sandals with real arch support and a soft, cushioned footbed, adjustable straps and soft leather — the ache melts away, and they look lovely too.

At 63, my feet ache by lunchtime. Flat, unsupportive sandals leave my arches sore and my whole body tired — so I'd give up and stick to my dull, clumpy "comfort" shoes, and feel frumpy all summer long.

What I really wanted was a sandal that supported my feet properly and still looked lovely — comfort I didn't have to hide. Everything I found was either supportive or pretty, never both.

It was my daughter Sarah, up in Boston, who told me to stop settling and try a pair from a small family boutique here in South Carolina — sandals she thought I'd never take off. Before I tell you what they did, I think you should read the Clarke family's letter first.

The Clarke family runs a small boutique here in South Carolina, family-run since 1986 — three generations, mother to daughter. The sandals are called the Esme, and their letter walks through the handful of things they refused to compromise on. I am going to let their words carry it, because they say it better than I could.

1Real arch support that ends achy, tired feet

We made the Esme with genuine arch support and a soft, cushioned footbed — so instead of leaving your arches sore, they cradle and support your feet all day. You put them on and the ache just melts away; you can stay on your feet for hours and still feel comfortable. Proper support, in a sandal you'll actually want to wear.

2A soft, cushioned footbed that cradles your foot

Standing on a hard, flat sole all day is agony for tired feet. The Esme has a soft, cushioned footbed contoured to cradle your foot and support your arch — so every step feels gentle, and standing about no longer leaves you sore. It's like walking on something soft, wherever you go.

See the Esme — $69.95 →

3Adjustable straps for a perfect fit

Our feet aren't the neat, narrow shape shoe shops seem to design for — they widen with the years and swell in the heat. The Esme has adjustable straps you simply loosen or tighten to fit — so they sit just right whatever the shape of your foot, with room to adjust on a warm day. No pinching, no gaping, just a fit made for you.

4Soft leather that's comfortable from day one

New sandals so often rub and blister until they're finally "broken in" — and by then the summer's half over. The Esme is made from soft leather that sits smoothly across the foot, with no hard edges to rub — so they're comfortable from the very first day, with no breaking in at all. Just slip them on and walk straight out the door.

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5Comfortable AND lovely to look at

For years I thought I had to choose between comfortable shoes and nice-looking ones — and I always chose comfort, then felt frumpy. The Esme gives you both: all the support and cushioning your feet need, in a sleek, elegant design that looks lovely with a dress or trousers. Comfort you don't have to hide.

6Six colours, and a size for you, from 4 to 12

They come in six lovely shades — black, camel, cream, navy, red and grey-blue — and they run from size 4 to 12, including half sizes, to fit a real range of feet. Sandals made to fit the woman, not to make the woman fit the sandals.

The Esme, against your usual sandals

	The usual sandals	The Esme
Support	Flat and unsupportive	Real arch support and cushioning
Underfoot	A hard, flat sole	A soft, contoured footbed
The fit	Pinches or gapes	Adjustable straps for a perfect fit
The feel	Rubs and blisters	Soft leather, comfortable from day one
The look	Clumpy and frumpy	Sleek and elegant

Why they're clearing them now

They priced the Esme at $149.95 when they launched, and they sold at that price all season. But for America's 250th, the Clarke family wanted to give something back to the women who have kept their doors open since 1986 — so every pair is going out at $69.95, less than half of what they were.

Mine arrived in a neat box with a little handwritten note on top. I slipped them on that same day and my achy feet felt cradled and supported — they've barely left my feet since.

I don't usually write things like this. But the Esme gave me exactly what I'd stopped hoping to find — a pair of sandals with real arch support and a soft, cushioned footbed, adjustable to fit my own feet, soft from the first wear, and elegant enough to be proud of. They've barely left my feet since they arrived. If your feet ache in flat, unsupportive sandals the way mine did, this is the pair I'd tell you to try, while the sale is still on.

— Sandra Thompson · Mount Pleasant, SC

See the Esme — $69.95 →

This is a personal account from a Clarke Family customer. Sandra was not paid to write it. · The Clarke Family · Family Fashion · South Carolina, since 1986 · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee.